The Economist Intelligence Unit, a research group has released its worldwide cost of living report for 2018, outlining the cities that cost the most to call home based on factors like the price of food, clothing and homes. For the fifth year in a row, Singapore is top of the list, followed by Paris and Zurich. Countries in Europe and Asia Pacific tended to top the rankings, but there have been shifts since previous years, with only Singapore and Seoul, which ranked sixth, maintaining their positions.

Sunset view of old street in quarter Montmartre in Paris, France.

The Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka tumbled out of the top ten due to low inflation in the country. Tokyo had been the world’s most expensive city until 2013. Tel Aviv was in 34th place five years ago, but has risen to ninth place due to facts like the expense of maintaining a car and expensive alcohol. With four European cities in the top 10, three – Zurich, Oslo and Geneva – are found outside the Eurozone, with Paris as the only top 10 city to use the currency. In general, currencies have a major effect on the rankings; the weak US dollar caused New York to drop four places to 13th and no other US cities made the top 10. LA came just behind New York in 14th place.

Aerial view of historic Zurich city center with famous Fraumunster Church and river Limmat at Lake Zurich.